Brussels, 26/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European trade union movement called for all its members to take action in protest at the new fiscal compact (an intergovernmental agreement among 26 member states) which the unions say “institutionalises austerity”. In the face of a worsening economic and social situation and with more and more European leaders making austerity their only response, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called for a European day of action on 29 February, the day before the European Council. Trade unionists will demonstrate throughout Europe for jobs and social justice to be placed at the heart of political priorities.
“It s time for governments to wake up: their austerity policies will not take Europe out of the crisis”, said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC, which represents 84 organisations across the continent. She argues for a policy that brings recovery through investment. To lift Europe out of the crisis, she recommends: intervention by the European Central Bank (ECB), eurobonds, a financial transaction tax, clamping down on tax evasion, and harmonisation of company tax and of the rules on the social protection of workers. The slogan for the European day of action on 29 February is “Enough is enough”. The following day, 1st March, the European Council is due to meet in Brussels to sign the treaty to strengthen budgetary discipline in the EU. This is a project that has united all the trade unions against it, stated Brendan Barber, Secretary General of the powerful Trade Union Congress (TUC). He says that, instead of promoting growth, it will lock Europe in a policy of austerity and, furthermore, will deprive citizens of their right to choose another policy.
The unions fear that there will be backtracking on social Europe. “This treaty has not been born out of a democratic process. It was drafted in haste behind the closed doors of a few rooms in Brussels” lamented Ségol.
Claude Rolin, leader of the Belgian moderate Christina trade union, the CSC, said that the treaty “will have enormous social implications”, for example, “making negotiations more difficult as the intangible European budgetary rules will always be imposed”.
Representing a number of French trade Unions in Brussels, CGT leader Bernard Thibaud highlighted the fact that “industrial action has increased significantly over the last six months” and especially in the countries most affected by the crisis, such as Greece. He warned that the “institutionalisation of austerity” was bringing about “rejection of Europe and a rise in nationalism”.
Following his meeting with the leaders of the European political parties, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso repeated his firm backing for the fundamental principles of the integrity of the European Union, respect for the treaties and the Community method. “The need, greater than ever in these difficult times, to demonstrate solidarity and fairness has also been re-affirmed. The sacrifices asked must be more fairly shared. Social justice is a key factor in recovery”, Barroso said. (LC/transl.rt)